Spoljaric Sets Career Goals Record
Alfred, NY -- It was a historic afternoon for the Elmira College women's lacrosse team, as senior
Moorea Spoljaric '16 scored five times to become the program's all-time leader in career goals in a 13-7 victory over Alfred University.
The senior captain continued her torrent scoring pace with her third consecutive five-goal performance, but it was her first that gave her sole possession of first place in the record books. Spoljaric received the ball as she streaked down the left-wing side, cut from left-to-right through the eight-meter arc and beat Alfred goalie Shannon Gray far-side to tie the game at 2-all midway through the first half.
Spoljaric struck again with five-and-a-half minutes left in the half, gunning a free position shot into the lower left corner of the net to give Elmira the lead for good at 5-4. She then feed
Kyra McDonald '18 on a one-timer with 1:35 to go in the period, giving the Purple and Gold a two-goal cushion at the break.
While the day belonged to Spoljaric, it was the play of first-year attacker
Hayley Baker '19 that sparked the second-half surge which gave EC a comfortable lead. Baker opened scoring in the second half with a natural hat trick, including a crafty left-handed shot that bounced underneath Gray's stick. The freshman tied her season best with four goals on the afternoon.
Spoljaric tacked on back-to-back tallies to stretch the run to 7-0, giving Elmira its largest lead of the game at 11-4. After the Saxons scored three unanswered in a span of 1:11, Spoljaric and
Kelcey Crawford '18 each added a free position goal late in the half. Crawford's goal, her first of the season, came with only seven seconds left on the clock.
In Their Own Words
Head coach
Alexa Tardif on
Moorea Spoljaric's milestone accomplishment...
"I am incredibly proud of Moorea. She has worked very hard to reach this point in her career. It's an impressive and well-deserved achievement."
Coach Tardif on
Hayley Baker's growth in her debut season...
"She's really blossomed this year. Her field sense and decision-making has improved with each game. Today, she held her composure, worked well with her teammates, and had great shot placement."
Coach Tardif on starting the tough season-ending stretch with an Empire 8 Conference win on the road...
"It feels great. I am very proud of the whole team's performance today. We don't have much time to relax until we face Hartwick and I hope to carry over our momentum into tomorrow's game."
Turning Point
Although Elmira led by two at the start of the second half, it was the natural hat trick from Baker that allowed the Soaring Eagles to put the game out of reach. Baker, who has come into her own as a scoring option for EC in her rookie season, deflated the Alfred bench and swung all momentum in Elmira's favor with her second-half spark. More importantly, she put EC ahead by an insurmountable 9-4 margin with her three straight scores.
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles don't have much time to rest, as the Elmira College women's lacrosse team hosts Hartwick College in Empire 8 Conference action at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 25th.